Essential SOLs:

Fundamental Principles of American Government

· Consent of the governed—People are the source of any and all governmental power.

· Limited government—Government is not all-powerful and may do only those things people have given it the power to do.

· Rule of law—The government and those who govern are bound by the law.

· Democracy—In a democratic system of government the people rule.

· Representative government—In a representative system of government people elect public officeholders to make laws and conduct government on their behalf.

Historical Documents

Influence of earlier documents on the Constitution of the United States of America

· Charters of the Virginia Company of London

- Rights of Englishmen guaranteed to colonists

· The Virginia Declaration of Rights

- Served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America

· Declaration of Independence

- Stated grievances against the king of Great Britain

- Declared the colonies’ independence from Great Britain

- Affirmed “certain unalienable rights” (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)

- Established the idea that all people are equal under the law

· Articles of Confederation

- Established the first form of national government for the independent states

- Maintained that major powers resided with individual states

- Weakness of central government (e.g., no power to tax and enforce laws)—Led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America

· Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

- Freedom of religious beliefs and opinions

· Constitution of the United States of America, including the Bill of Rights

- Establishes the structure of the United States government

- Guarantees equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected

- Affirms individual worth and dignity of all people

- Protects the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America expresses the reasons the constitution was written.

Purposes of U.S. government

· To form a union

· To establish justice

· To ensure domestic peace

· To provide defense

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America begins, “We the people,” which establishes that the power of government comes from the people.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America defines citizenship: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the state wherein they reside.”

Process for amending the Constitution of the United States of America

· Action by Congress or convention

· Ratification by the states

The amendment process is complex; to date, only 27 amendments have been added.

First Amendment freedoms

· Religion—Government may not establish an official religion, nor endorse, or unduly interfere with the free exercise of religion.

· Speech—Individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs.

· Press—The press has the right to gather and publish information, including that which criticizes the government.

· Assembly—Individuals may peacefully gather.

· Petition—Individuals have the right to make their views known to public officials.

Fifth Amendment

· Due Process; rights of people accused of crimes

Fourteenth Amendment

· Extends the due process protection to actions of the states; defines citizenship

Sixteenth Amendment

· Allows Congress to collect an income tax